stDarNES1: Stars!
- Thread starter Darwin420
- Start date
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
It seems as though I am gaining adherents! 
stDarNES1: Stars! -- UPDATE 6
--------------------
GALACTIC NEWS ORGANIZATION (NDE 5)
...and we'll let you know if there are any more sightings of those strange ships in hyperspace. But, for now, let's turn our attention to everybody's favorite soap opera: Simians in Space!
Mr Dee, how goes it out there in the Backwater Region?
<crazzackle... sizz... pop> <crzzzzzz... poppopop>
Uh, can you hear me all right? There seems to be more interference than usual. Don't know what that means. We've adjusted our signals more times in the last year than we have in the last ten.
So, anyway, Mr Grey. There are lots of goings-on here, so I'll just begin:
Astral Sojourners
At Oncol, the entire Sojourner Fleet is being reorganized. Gone are the days of many small fleets. Instead, the Military has reorganized into 3 larger, but more specialized fleets: Interstellar Bus, Border Patrol, and Bringers of Dawn.
Interstellar Bus transports 10,000 new colonists to Enemsi, where they begin laying down their roots almost immediately. Border Patrol is sent to Broder, to keep an eye on the fringe colony. Bringers of Dawn jump to Sabro, transporting 7,500 colonists and 1,500 troops.
Almost the entire economy of the Faction has been funneled into development of their colony worlds. Also, the government has begun a Faction-wide program of genetic modification and bionic implanting. With the sheer amount of investment occuring, the Sojourner Economy has skyrocketing into a Growing Economy.
Harpellian Hegemony
The Hegemony is thrusting money into Biotech research, which has resulted in a population surge across both Harpellian Systems. The initial crowding was so bad on Harpell that many chose to move to Qomoc. (+5 million people each star system from Biotech).
Hegemony Scientist dig deep into the Old Dominion ruins on Qomoc, and uncover secrets into advance energy principles. These principles are used to create better power sources, resulting in an Economic Boon. (+1 Energy Tech From Ruins, +1EP from Energy Tech)
Haven
Haven scientists have completed some grueling research into advanced Robotics, and have learned some new tricks to make some nasty weapons.
The Sentinel reaches Hr'Tor System, the Homeworld of the Mirian Faction. TF Beta transports 10,000 colonists to Byblos. TF Alpha jumps to Naqu, and establishes another Haven colony there. The Blue Flame returns to Fetarra. The Silence jumps back to Ramidi.
Haven scientists on the colony words continue to study the native flora and fauna, experimenting with new plants found, hoping to find cures for diseases known (and unknown). The partnership with the Aquinna grows as well, with the colonists helping to advance Aquinna society. The Aquinna are highly intelligent, and are learning quickly, but they are still constrained by their watery domain.
Miria
Another colony established on Ingram. CF1 and EF2 reach Arakis and find a mostly barren system with only 1 planetoid eligible for colonization. A colony is established anyway, and shortly after landing, the colonists discover Old Dominion spice mining equipment that is still usable! The export of the spice is expected to bring a good amount of money into Mirian's coffers. (+1EP every 2 turns)
EF1 jumps to Emey. A Cruiser separates from the War Fleet at Kalekka and makes the jump to Lisle (MDP: 4). Only one word out of the Cruiser's last transmission is understandable: "SCOURGE" (-1 Cruiser)
On a happier note, Mirian scientists complete their studies of new construction techniques. 10 new transports and 50 new fighters are completed at Hr'Tor.
Republic of ZIB
Advanced construction techniques learned. Colony on New Zidon is developed.
Skyjack Conclave
The Scorpleten fleet is split up, with 38 Transports returning to Lambert's Ring, and 2 Transports (Scorpleten1.2) establishing a colony on Vayin. Scientists immediately begin studying the Old Dominion Cruisers.
Tumbleweed proceeds to Sakri'i.
The Madya Halo is completed around Lambert's Ring.
Imperial Republic of Trinity
A new Fleet (Excelscior) is created and sent to Quostellis. The Exosus and Shalin Fleets move to Vayin, attempting to establish a colony. Unfortunately, they were beaten there by the Skyjacks. Both Fleets are awaiting further orders. The Yolin Fleet has better success at Tron, however, and establishes a colony there.
The Hari System grows in development, adding new infrastructure. Multiple colonies now spread throughout the system. In worse news, there is a major sun flare which incinerates on of the smaller inner system research outposts (-2,000 colonists). Trinity scientists are determined to understand the causes of these Solar Flares, and find a way to put an end to them.
Ra jumps from Imerik to Nellis. Sypher jumps from Trinity to Hari. The Obelisk jumps from Sakri'i to Tagellis(MDP 6) and make contact with the Republic of Roma. First impressions are of a strictly disciplined, highly-militaristic people. No hostility is apparent, however, but so far only the basic greeting transmissions have been exchanged.
UCCT
The UCCT colonizes the Crisium System, creating their first extra-stellar colony. The cheers are load throughout the corporate hallways, and especially around the watercoolers. The Cassini Fleet is recalled to Totalus. New innovations in the Energy field have provided an economic uplift (+1EP From Energy Tech). Another scoutship is commissioned, and 50 new fighters are brought online.
The elation felt from the colonization of Crisium has carried over into the economic sector, further stimulating the economy! (+1 Economy Level (growing))
Zentraedi
The Zentraedi Empire falls into disarray. The Economy plunges into Recession, and there is virtually no population growth.
...And so it goes in the Backwater Region, Mr. Grey. Back to... <crazzipop....> damn!
STORY WINNERS
-Astral Sojourners - +1 Economy Level (Growing)
-UCCT - +1 Economy Level (Growing)
NOTES:
@Lord_Iggy and Disenfranchised: You can only research ONE tech at a time. I banked the EPs going into secondary techs.
@Gelion: Disorder caused by lack of story or orders. Do you need NPC?
ORDERS AND STORIES ARE DUE MONDAY, FEB 13 AT 0900 (9AM) EST. I WILL BE GONE FROM THE 10th - 12th. YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME. IF ALL ORDERS AND STORIES ARE IN BY THURSDAY MONRING, I WILL RUN THE UPDATE EARLY.
--------------------
GALACTIC NEWS ORGANIZATION (NDE 5)
...and we'll let you know if there are any more sightings of those strange ships in hyperspace. But, for now, let's turn our attention to everybody's favorite soap opera: Simians in Space!
Mr Dee, how goes it out there in the Backwater Region?
<crazzackle... sizz... pop> <crzzzzzz... poppopop>
Uh, can you hear me all right? There seems to be more interference than usual. Don't know what that means. We've adjusted our signals more times in the last year than we have in the last ten.
So, anyway, Mr Grey. There are lots of goings-on here, so I'll just begin:
Astral Sojourners
At Oncol, the entire Sojourner Fleet is being reorganized. Gone are the days of many small fleets. Instead, the Military has reorganized into 3 larger, but more specialized fleets: Interstellar Bus, Border Patrol, and Bringers of Dawn.
Interstellar Bus transports 10,000 new colonists to Enemsi, where they begin laying down their roots almost immediately. Border Patrol is sent to Broder, to keep an eye on the fringe colony. Bringers of Dawn jump to Sabro, transporting 7,500 colonists and 1,500 troops.
Almost the entire economy of the Faction has been funneled into development of their colony worlds. Also, the government has begun a Faction-wide program of genetic modification and bionic implanting. With the sheer amount of investment occuring, the Sojourner Economy has skyrocketing into a Growing Economy.
Harpellian Hegemony
The Hegemony is thrusting money into Biotech research, which has resulted in a population surge across both Harpellian Systems. The initial crowding was so bad on Harpell that many chose to move to Qomoc. (+5 million people each star system from Biotech).
Hegemony Scientist dig deep into the Old Dominion ruins on Qomoc, and uncover secrets into advance energy principles. These principles are used to create better power sources, resulting in an Economic Boon. (+1 Energy Tech From Ruins, +1EP from Energy Tech)
Haven
Haven scientists have completed some grueling research into advanced Robotics, and have learned some new tricks to make some nasty weapons.
The Sentinel reaches Hr'Tor System, the Homeworld of the Mirian Faction. TF Beta transports 10,000 colonists to Byblos. TF Alpha jumps to Naqu, and establishes another Haven colony there. The Blue Flame returns to Fetarra. The Silence jumps back to Ramidi.
Haven scientists on the colony words continue to study the native flora and fauna, experimenting with new plants found, hoping to find cures for diseases known (and unknown). The partnership with the Aquinna grows as well, with the colonists helping to advance Aquinna society. The Aquinna are highly intelligent, and are learning quickly, but they are still constrained by their watery domain.
Miria
Another colony established on Ingram. CF1 and EF2 reach Arakis and find a mostly barren system with only 1 planetoid eligible for colonization. A colony is established anyway, and shortly after landing, the colonists discover Old Dominion spice mining equipment that is still usable! The export of the spice is expected to bring a good amount of money into Mirian's coffers. (+1EP every 2 turns)
EF1 jumps to Emey. A Cruiser separates from the War Fleet at Kalekka and makes the jump to Lisle (MDP: 4). Only one word out of the Cruiser's last transmission is understandable: "SCOURGE" (-1 Cruiser)
On a happier note, Mirian scientists complete their studies of new construction techniques. 10 new transports and 50 new fighters are completed at Hr'Tor.
Republic of ZIB
Advanced construction techniques learned. Colony on New Zidon is developed.
Skyjack Conclave
The Scorpleten fleet is split up, with 38 Transports returning to Lambert's Ring, and 2 Transports (Scorpleten1.2) establishing a colony on Vayin. Scientists immediately begin studying the Old Dominion Cruisers.
Tumbleweed proceeds to Sakri'i.
The Madya Halo is completed around Lambert's Ring.
Imperial Republic of Trinity
A new Fleet (Excelscior) is created and sent to Quostellis. The Exosus and Shalin Fleets move to Vayin, attempting to establish a colony. Unfortunately, they were beaten there by the Skyjacks. Both Fleets are awaiting further orders. The Yolin Fleet has better success at Tron, however, and establishes a colony there.
The Hari System grows in development, adding new infrastructure. Multiple colonies now spread throughout the system. In worse news, there is a major sun flare which incinerates on of the smaller inner system research outposts (-2,000 colonists). Trinity scientists are determined to understand the causes of these Solar Flares, and find a way to put an end to them.
Ra jumps from Imerik to Nellis. Sypher jumps from Trinity to Hari. The Obelisk jumps from Sakri'i to Tagellis(MDP 6) and make contact with the Republic of Roma. First impressions are of a strictly disciplined, highly-militaristic people. No hostility is apparent, however, but so far only the basic greeting transmissions have been exchanged.
UCCT
The UCCT colonizes the Crisium System, creating their first extra-stellar colony. The cheers are load throughout the corporate hallways, and especially around the watercoolers. The Cassini Fleet is recalled to Totalus. New innovations in the Energy field have provided an economic uplift (+1EP From Energy Tech). Another scoutship is commissioned, and 50 new fighters are brought online.
The elation felt from the colonization of Crisium has carried over into the economic sector, further stimulating the economy! (+1 Economy Level (growing))
Zentraedi
The Zentraedi Empire falls into disarray. The Economy plunges into Recession, and there is virtually no population growth.
...And so it goes in the Backwater Region, Mr. Grey. Back to... <crazzipop....> damn!
Spoiler Starmap :
STORY WINNERS
-Astral Sojourners - +1 Economy Level (Growing)
-UCCT - +1 Economy Level (Growing)
NOTES:
@Lord_Iggy and Disenfranchised: You can only research ONE tech at a time. I banked the EPs going into secondary techs.
@Gelion: Disorder caused by lack of story or orders. Do you need NPC?
ORDERS AND STORIES ARE DUE MONDAY, FEB 13 AT 0900 (9AM) EST. I WILL BE GONE FROM THE 10th - 12th. YOU HAVE EXTRA TIME. IF ALL ORDERS AND STORIES ARE IN BY THURSDAY MONRING, I WILL RUN THE UPDATE EARLY.
Disenfrancised
Beep Beep
Dang I thought the bit in post 292 wouldn't be enough but was unfortuately pressed for time 
. Wait a sec; Global Nexus's story counted but mine didn't? outrage!
On the Starmap Ceiti should be level 2 development now
. Wait a sec; Global Nexus's story counted but mine didn't? outrage! On the Starmap Ceiti should be level 2 development now
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
I think something is ever so slightly messed up here.
@Dis: I must have missed that when I was scanning through the threads. It's fixed. The Space-Time Continuum has been altered, and the Madya Halo is complete.
@Erik: Discrepency fixed.
@Kal'thzar: Is it obvious I'm a Frank Herbert fan?
@Erik: Discrepency fixed.
@Kal'thzar: Is it obvious I'm a Frank Herbert fan?
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
From Astral Sojourners
To Dysonians
What price Robotics 4?
(OOC: If I buy it, can I research Robotics 5 the same turn, or does the purchase count as my research for the turn?)
(Still OOC: I'm moving on the stupid defense system in Sierra this turn, can I ask for enough info to write a story about it?)
To Dysonians
What price Robotics 4?
(OOC: If I buy it, can I research Robotics 5 the same turn, or does the purchase count as my research for the turn?)
(Still OOC: I'm moving on the stupid defense system in Sierra this turn, can I ask for enough info to write a story about it?)
From: Dysonians
To: Astral Sojourners
We will trade Robotics 4 to you for Troop Weapons 2 and 3 EP.
--
If you trade for a technology, you can not research the next tech level on the same turn. You could, however, research a different tech on the same turn you trade.
The Old Dominion Defense Net is a multi-layered system. It utilizes a variety of energy beams and nano-robotic screens to tear enemy ships to shreds. Tactical missiles are also used. Based upon the data your scoutship relayed prior to its destruction, the Defense Net is old and worn down, and not everything seems to be working. Still, it seems to be able to quickly deploy to whichever jumpgate it needs to defend.
--
On this next update, I will be adding numbers next to your Fleet and Army stats in your Faction Profile. These numbers will show the modifiers to Attack and Defense due to your technological achievements. It should help you more easily understand your relative strengths.
To: Astral Sojourners
We will trade Robotics 4 to you for Troop Weapons 2 and 3 EP.
--
If you trade for a technology, you can not research the next tech level on the same turn. You could, however, research a different tech on the same turn you trade.
The Old Dominion Defense Net is a multi-layered system. It utilizes a variety of energy beams and nano-robotic screens to tear enemy ships to shreds. Tactical missiles are also used. Based upon the data your scoutship relayed prior to its destruction, the Defense Net is old and worn down, and not everything seems to be working. Still, it seems to be able to quickly deploy to whichever jumpgate it needs to defend.
--
On this next update, I will be adding numbers next to your Fleet and Army stats in your Faction Profile. These numbers will show the modifiers to Attack and Defense due to your technological achievements. It should help you more easily understand your relative strengths.
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
Most agreeable.Darwin420 said:
Will you consider Construction 4 for Troop Weapons 3 and 2 EP at a later time?
Ah. I suppose I can spare some more resources for development, then.Darwin420 said:
ORDERS SENT.
Global Nexus
Terran Confederate
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2003
- Messages
- 1,109
Story 1:
The cafeteria of New Lutanis was built to house up to five hundred people at a time, even though the colony had only about three-hundred and fifty citizens living in it. The colonists had spread out fairly thinly across Crisium Prime’s most lush continent, almost all of them located on the coasts or along rivers. New Lutanis for the moment was just an average colony, focused primarily on taming the local flora and fauna [through genetic engineering, of course] for various uses.
Ruth Harris knew that most of those uses would be purely for profit back in Totalus, but here in Crisium? Oh, no indeed – survival was still rather hard right now. A lot of the corporate pioneers were having a hard time, though they were doing better than she had thought they would be. And thankfully the “where’s the mall?” questions from the youngest colonists had ceased. At this point, there wasn’t much else that mattered.
“Hey, Sam,” Ruth said, taking a bite out of her sandwich. An older male dressed in military uniform with ebony skin sat down opposite her at the table, ripping open a rations pack as he did so. “How go the patrols?”
“Same old, same old.” He yawned widely, then bit into his own sandwich. “Dammit, the food here always sucks. Who supplied it again?”
“TCA.”
“Oh, well. That explains that. Bunch of cheapskates, they are,” Sam growled. But he took another bite anyway, though he chewed quickly to hasten the meal. “No one does anything in this town. There aren’t any alien hordes approaching us from any direction. And I really doubt that the animals and stuff on this planet are going to start barreling towards us from all directions or something nuts like that…”
Ruth smiled. He complained a lot, but Samuel P. Yairen was among the best men she’d ever met. Loyal, strong, and – despite his imposing size and strength – diplomatic and kind. The only reason he worked for the Corporations is because he was born in their territory, and Crisium Prime wasn’t exactly under the ever-present watchful eye of the CEOs.
“The supply ship will be arriving soon, won’t it?” she queried.
“It should be here in a few cycles, at least,” he responded. Sam thought for a moment. “Within a rotational cycle at the very most. Unless they get blown up – and knowing the people they hire to pilot those things, that’s a considerable possibility!”
“Well, hopefully everything will go without incident, yes?”
“Oh, I imagine if it went badly we’d be abandoned and the corporations would chicken out due to the risk. Surprised they got this far, the cowards.”
She knew it wasn’t that bad. The corporations were at least higher risk-takers due to their status as quasi-governments than one would expect [and what little historical records indicate], so they’d keep up the supply shipments. It was necessary – the chances of a revolt occurring if they abandoned the colonies were far too high for any sane CEO to ignore. Ruth turned her thoughts to the shipment – more colonists, more supplies, more everything would be coming. Crisium would be widely reinforced and might soon start to look a bit more like Totalus…
She stopped.
“Is that such a good thing?” she asked herself aloud.
“What?”
“No…nothing…”
The cafeteria of New Lutanis was built to house up to five hundred people at a time, even though the colony had only about three-hundred and fifty citizens living in it. The colonists had spread out fairly thinly across Crisium Prime’s most lush continent, almost all of them located on the coasts or along rivers. New Lutanis for the moment was just an average colony, focused primarily on taming the local flora and fauna [through genetic engineering, of course] for various uses.
Ruth Harris knew that most of those uses would be purely for profit back in Totalus, but here in Crisium? Oh, no indeed – survival was still rather hard right now. A lot of the corporate pioneers were having a hard time, though they were doing better than she had thought they would be. And thankfully the “where’s the mall?” questions from the youngest colonists had ceased. At this point, there wasn’t much else that mattered.
“Hey, Sam,” Ruth said, taking a bite out of her sandwich. An older male dressed in military uniform with ebony skin sat down opposite her at the table, ripping open a rations pack as he did so. “How go the patrols?”
“Same old, same old.” He yawned widely, then bit into his own sandwich. “Dammit, the food here always sucks. Who supplied it again?”
“TCA.”
“Oh, well. That explains that. Bunch of cheapskates, they are,” Sam growled. But he took another bite anyway, though he chewed quickly to hasten the meal. “No one does anything in this town. There aren’t any alien hordes approaching us from any direction. And I really doubt that the animals and stuff on this planet are going to start barreling towards us from all directions or something nuts like that…”
Ruth smiled. He complained a lot, but Samuel P. Yairen was among the best men she’d ever met. Loyal, strong, and – despite his imposing size and strength – diplomatic and kind. The only reason he worked for the Corporations is because he was born in their territory, and Crisium Prime wasn’t exactly under the ever-present watchful eye of the CEOs.
“The supply ship will be arriving soon, won’t it?” she queried.
“It should be here in a few cycles, at least,” he responded. Sam thought for a moment. “Within a rotational cycle at the very most. Unless they get blown up – and knowing the people they hire to pilot those things, that’s a considerable possibility!”
“Well, hopefully everything will go without incident, yes?”
“Oh, I imagine if it went badly we’d be abandoned and the corporations would chicken out due to the risk. Surprised they got this far, the cowards.”
She knew it wasn’t that bad. The corporations were at least higher risk-takers due to their status as quasi-governments than one would expect [and what little historical records indicate], so they’d keep up the supply shipments. It was necessary – the chances of a revolt occurring if they abandoned the colonies were far too high for any sane CEO to ignore. Ruth turned her thoughts to the shipment – more colonists, more supplies, more everything would be coming. Crisium would be widely reinforced and might soon start to look a bit more like Totalus…
She stopped.
“Is that such a good thing?” she asked herself aloud.
“What?”
“No…nothing…”
Gelion
Retired Captain
I think it would be fair if I withdraw. I have little time although it is an excellent NES. I would like to rejoin later if I have time and it is possible. carry on with the good work!!!
Erik Mesoy
Core Tester / Intern
Story is here. It'll get longer as I find time to edit it.
Low Orbit
Sabro System
"Planetside transmission to Rear Admiral Vandergon" bleeped the computer. Vandergon quickly closed the Nuclear Pinball game on his screen and attempted to straighten his uniform.
"Source?" he asked. "List and take five seconds."
"Chief Engineer Jane Fareth." The screen listed rank, age, planetary travel history, personal fortune, and a bunch of other details that Vandergon sometimes found relevant. Five seconds later, Jane's face came up on the screen.
"Sir. You've got a full load of three hundred of the new missiles, reaction materials for another six hundred, and the new energy generators. Your fighters will be supplied tomorrow. You're going to have to either give clearance for us to install those, or send a Commander to supervise. Installing a new breed of extra large generators in a one-man ship and trying to compensate for the space by redesigning - "
"Yes, yes, yes. You have clearance. Don't bother giving me all the details. If I want technicals, I'll strip them out of your brain." Vandergon smiled grimly. Phoenix had extravagantly spacious captain's quarters in the blueprints, but in reality one of the cursed Amroth Machines had its own room. He had personally acquired it after Blajat Ravinam had shut Amroth down rather vehemently. "Computer, write me a clearance warrant." The Amroth Machine used a combination of quantum intederminacy and brute force processing to quite literally strip a brain of its informational content.
Jane Fareth, of course, thought it only a joke on Vandergon's supreme authority. "Of course. I'll remember that, sir. We'll be along tomorrow for the installation. Right now the missiles are arriving by magchute; I'm sure you know best how to install them. That's all."
Her face flickered off the screen, and Vandergon was left staring dumbly into space. By all that is free... did I just threaten somebody with that closed machine?
Fighter Bay
Carrier Aurora
A ghostly silence surrounded the little shuttle as it latched onto the Aurora's side. In it stood five men, all looking normal from the waist down, their top halves covered in bright yellow suits and a space helmet.
"Last radio check." said their leader. "In sequence." He flashed a hand gesture at them and starting counting to four on his fingers.
"Zeta One, I'm good" said one. The leader held up a second finger.
"Zeta Two, I read you." The leader held up a third finger.
"Zeta Three, whatever the others said."
"Zeta Four, check."
"Good. Suit out."
The five men jetted towards the shuttle wall and wiggled their legs into the bottom halves of their spacesuits. They sealed off, left the shuttle and took navigation sticks from the nearby hatch.
(A stick is an excellent tool for moving in space - rotate it one way, you spin the other way. Catch it again, and you stop, due to conservation of angular momentum. After that, you can push against other surfaces.)
After the last hisses died away, the ghostly silence quickly descended again over the airless fighter bay. Everyone knew their business. Two mechanics would open a fighter (one removing the engine and the other reconfiguring the fighter's innards), while the three other would put together an engine from their cargo bay and bring it to be installed.
It would take roughly half an hour per fighter.
"Everyone back to the ship for stimmies," said the leader after sixteen fighters had been upgraded. They jetted back to their own shuttle, left their pants hanging out and removed the spacesuit tops. Each of them took a glass of the beverage they preferred and washed down two small blue pills. "Hurry out. We have nine fighters to fix and the pills are only certified for five hours."
...
Extraorbit
Sabro System
"Hypo here. We've finally found the rock you need. Do you copy, Lambda?"
"I copy, Hypo. How fast can you get it to the jumpgate?"
"Eight days if you want to have a chance at catching it. Six if you're willing to stop it by putting a ship in its path."
"You have five days. The sensor arrays are already there for installation and you're behind schedule out in the asteroid belt. Slap one of your own engines on the rock if you need to."
"Fine, five days. But don't blame us if you miss it because it's going too fast, and I want that in hardcopy that you ordered us to send it that quickly."
"You'll have it. Lambda out."
Lambda - commonly known as Nicholas Doug - paused for all of half a second before contacting Commander Denilith.
"Den here. That you, Nick?"
"Right. You better get moving, Denilith. That asteroid you asked for is on its way, overweight, and coming in at full speed in five days."
"Great. If there's anything that will absorb the first volley from the Old Dominion defence system, it's a ton of rock."
Low Orbit
Sabro System
"Planetside transmission to Rear Admiral Vandergon" bleeped the computer. Vandergon quickly closed the Nuclear Pinball game on his screen and attempted to straighten his uniform.
"Source?" he asked. "List and take five seconds."
"Chief Engineer Jane Fareth." The screen listed rank, age, planetary travel history, personal fortune, and a bunch of other details that Vandergon sometimes found relevant. Five seconds later, Jane's face came up on the screen.
"Sir. You've got a full load of three hundred of the new missiles, reaction materials for another six hundred, and the new energy generators. Your fighters will be supplied tomorrow. You're going to have to either give clearance for us to install those, or send a Commander to supervise. Installing a new breed of extra large generators in a one-man ship and trying to compensate for the space by redesigning - "
"Yes, yes, yes. You have clearance. Don't bother giving me all the details. If I want technicals, I'll strip them out of your brain." Vandergon smiled grimly. Phoenix had extravagantly spacious captain's quarters in the blueprints, but in reality one of the cursed Amroth Machines had its own room. He had personally acquired it after Blajat Ravinam had shut Amroth down rather vehemently. "Computer, write me a clearance warrant." The Amroth Machine used a combination of quantum intederminacy and brute force processing to quite literally strip a brain of its informational content.
Jane Fareth, of course, thought it only a joke on Vandergon's supreme authority. "Of course. I'll remember that, sir. We'll be along tomorrow for the installation. Right now the missiles are arriving by magchute; I'm sure you know best how to install them. That's all."
Her face flickered off the screen, and Vandergon was left staring dumbly into space. By all that is free... did I just threaten somebody with that closed machine?
Fighter Bay
Carrier Aurora
A ghostly silence surrounded the little shuttle as it latched onto the Aurora's side. In it stood five men, all looking normal from the waist down, their top halves covered in bright yellow suits and a space helmet.
"Last radio check." said their leader. "In sequence." He flashed a hand gesture at them and starting counting to four on his fingers.
"Zeta One, I'm good" said one. The leader held up a second finger.
"Zeta Two, I read you." The leader held up a third finger.
"Zeta Three, whatever the others said."
"Zeta Four, check."
"Good. Suit out."
The five men jetted towards the shuttle wall and wiggled their legs into the bottom halves of their spacesuits. They sealed off, left the shuttle and took navigation sticks from the nearby hatch.
(A stick is an excellent tool for moving in space - rotate it one way, you spin the other way. Catch it again, and you stop, due to conservation of angular momentum. After that, you can push against other surfaces.)
After the last hisses died away, the ghostly silence quickly descended again over the airless fighter bay. Everyone knew their business. Two mechanics would open a fighter (one removing the engine and the other reconfiguring the fighter's innards), while the three other would put together an engine from their cargo bay and bring it to be installed.
It would take roughly half an hour per fighter.
"Everyone back to the ship for stimmies," said the leader after sixteen fighters had been upgraded. They jetted back to their own shuttle, left their pants hanging out and removed the spacesuit tops. Each of them took a glass of the beverage they preferred and washed down two small blue pills. "Hurry out. We have nine fighters to fix and the pills are only certified for five hours."
...
Extraorbit
Sabro System
"Hypo here. We've finally found the rock you need. Do you copy, Lambda?"
"I copy, Hypo. How fast can you get it to the jumpgate?"
"Eight days if you want to have a chance at catching it. Six if you're willing to stop it by putting a ship in its path."
"You have five days. The sensor arrays are already there for installation and you're behind schedule out in the asteroid belt. Slap one of your own engines on the rock if you need to."
"Fine, five days. But don't blame us if you miss it because it's going too fast, and I want that in hardcopy that you ordered us to send it that quickly."
"You'll have it. Lambda out."
Lambda - commonly known as Nicholas Doug - paused for all of half a second before contacting Commander Denilith.
"Den here. That you, Nick?"
"Right. You better get moving, Denilith. That asteroid you asked for is on its way, overweight, and coming in at full speed in five days."
"Great. If there's anything that will absorb the first volley from the Old Dominion defence system, it's a ton of rock."
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